Menswear was apparently a stand-out in terms of sales over the holiday season, and many retailers are banking on an increase in interest in the category for 2011 (and buying accordingly). WWD's report claims that men are buying more tailored pieces -- with a focus on "slim-fitting silhouettes" as well as "dressy sportswear" (read: blazers) that can be worn both for work and weekends. (Somewhere in here, we're betting "Mad Men" has played a part in these sales.) The numbers don't lie, according to WWD:

Exactly how does the recession factor into the trend? WWD consulted behavioral finance expert Meir Statman, who argued that the recession actually jumpstarted men seeing dressing well as a kind of competition, to give them a literal leg up on potential competitiors. As Statman told WWD:

“It’s not just a matter of impressing women anymore,” he said. “It’s also about impressing potential employers. There is a sense that the competition out there is more fierce.”

Statman went on to make a point that most any women who has ever dropped serious dollars on an It-bag already knows: "Clothing are visible status goods."